Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-01
PART ii.

Sebastian found it necessary to have
very numerous sittings, and it so hap
pened that his mother-who had come
unexpectedly to town to consult great
physician for her husband, who was
out of health-surprised very pretty
tableau. The fair-haired, milky-com-
plexioned model sat on the dais, with
dropping head and very pink cheeks,
her long, white, angelic drapery trail
ing around her, and kneeling by her,
with both her hands clasped in his and
rspturously held to his breast, was Mrs.
Fellowes's immaculate Sebastian
A dreadful vision of virtue over
thrown, of the temptations of Babylon,
and fair-haired, deceitful Delilahs,
passed through the mothers brain and
made her utter q kind of scream; but
Sebastian was not at all perturbed,
though his poor angel felt ready to sink
through the floor in innocent shame.
He jumped up cheerfully and embraced
his mother, with surprised inquiry
as to how she got there. She told him
in few incoherent sentences how
his father was i'll and had come up to
see the great physician, and how she
had left him to rest after his journey,
thinking to surprise her dear Sebastian /;
but now, really, who is this-this young
person?
"This young lady, mother" Sebas-
tian answered with some emphasis,
is going to be my wife. Come here,
Mary. hope you and my dear good
mother will love each other.
1t was very difficult and awkward for
poor Mary to move in her flowing gar
ments, and she felt altogether shy and
miserable but Mrs. Fellowes was far
too soft and sentimental soul not to
melt at the situation, and very few
words more made her weep over the
girl, whom she folded in a large en-
brace and kissed, with the long, span
iel-like curls tickling her face so that
it was all Mary could do to stand it.
"And, mother, L have more good
news for you" Sebastian said presently,
when the situation had become less
acute. "In spite of the set some Of
the academicians have made against
me, they have made an "A. r. A. of
me"
"a. r. A." at thirty, Sebastian Fell
loves at forty was fully enrolled mem
Der of the noble army of Royal Acade-
micians, privileged to exhibit eight
pictures ON the line, a privilege OF
which he availed himself every year
for more than twenty years, with
scarcely a gap. He was the Quickest
beggar," his friends said.
He took large house in Kensington
and built studio. He was very gene
rous and kind to young artists who were
tractable, TO all his relations and old
friends. He narrowed, OF course, and
hardened round certain set of opin-
ions. He was sure to do that. He got
intolerant and more intolerant OF differ
ing beliefs, OF all Bohemianism, ire
lgion, disrespectability OF any kind
OF theatres, OF smoking, and OF many
other things which most men call harm
less and necessary.
His early strict training, the narrow
groove Of the old Birmingham house
hold had first shaped his mind, and it
was one to grow only in a certain shape.
No one said any i'll Of him he was
good deal ridiculed, it is true, but that
did not touch him, and in his home he
was adored.
When his father died suddenly, some
years after s;ebastian's marriage, he
took his mother to live with him, and,
astonishing to say, mother and wife
agreed. Mary was gentle, malleable,
grateful, devoted. The two had one
common object Of alteration they
united in declaring Sebastian to be the
FIRST, best, dearest, most gifted of men